When it comes to modes of transportation, a scooter isn’t exactly the speediest or perhaps the coolest way to get around.  But, as a scooter costs much less than a car, and is much less hassle to get licensed, scooters are only growing in popularity.  So, how do you get to be a licensed scooter driver?  Here at adflyer, we’ve done all the legwork for you, and found out exactly what you need to do before you can take your new scooter out on the road.

When it comes to getting licensed to ride your shiny new scooter, everything depends, oddly enough, on whether or not you already have a car licence.  If you already have a full car licence which you obtained before the 1^st of February 2001, then you’re already fully entitled to ride a scooter without those pesky L-plates-good times!  However, if you got your car licence after this time, it’s a wee bit more complicated.  You’ll need to attend a full day course of Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), which has five different elements to complete and pass.  Once you’ve completed your CBT, you’ll be given a DL 196 certificate, which means you can ride your scooter wherever you want, L-plate free.

If, however, you’re not the proud owner of a car licence and you’re sixteen or older, there’s a bit more to be done before you can be licensed to ride a scooter.  Firstly, you’ll need to get hold of a provisional moped licence, which allows you to take your scooter on the road with L-plates, but not to take a passenger or to ride on the motorway.  Then, you’ll need to take the CBT course, and pass a theory and practical test to become a fully licensed scooter owner.

So, we hope that this has helped make sense of all the forms, tests and bureaucracy you’ll need to go through before you can take your lovely new scooter out on the road completely L-plate free.  Don’t forget to look at adflyer’s great motoring section, where we’ve got a huge range of scooters to choose from, and keep up to date with our motors blog for all the latest news, advice and information you need on everything petrol-related.

If you’re anything like the majority of prospective car owners, the only things you care about when looking for a new car are that it won’t break down after a week, and that it’s a tolerable enough colour to be seen in the daylight.

But, we should apparently be thinking about the car we pick a little more deeply, as some car and psychology boffins reckon your choice in motors says a lot about your personality and lifestyle.  In fact, some believe that prospective car buyers look for attributes in their ideal motor that mirror how they see themselves.  Whether you believe this or not, what you drive clearly says a lot about who you are.  So take a look at what we think certain cars say about their owners, and see if the descriptions match anyone you know!

Firstly, the colour of the car you choose can speak volumes about your personality.  If, for instance, you fancy buying an orange-red car you’re apparently a speedy driver and a highly energetic, dynamic person.  On the other hand, the must-have colours for you oh-so-trendy, creative types are orange and purple.  However, if bright colours seem a bit too ‘out there’ for you these days, you might want to stick to more muted colours like black and dark green, as these convey confidence and reliability.

So, what about the actual car itself?  There are of course loads of stereotypes out there, but there are only a handful that seem to actually come anywhere near the truth.  The most prominent of these at the moment seems to be 4×4 drivers, most of whom wouldn’t even dream of driving their custom-built Land Rover anywhere near a muddy track in the countryside!  These drivers are thought to see other road users as mere obstacles to their vital daily school run, and are seen by some as vain, self-absorbed and inconsiderate.

Another one of the most-derided types of car driver are the owners of the sports car, particularly those who own a Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini.  These rather ill-advised car purchases are made mainly by fifty-something men in the depths of their mid-life crises, who are quite often seen sporting a dodgy comb-over and baseball cap: avoid at all costs!

Finally, we have the battle of the suburban cars.  This is fiercely fought between the three-door hatchback typically owned by a little old lady precariously peering over the steering wheel of her Peugeot or Fiat, and the big lumbering Ford estate, driven by a harassed dad desperately trying to get the family off on their half-term caravanning holiday.

As you can see, choosing the right car for you is a veritable minefield of dodgy stereotypes and over-used clichés, so it’s incredibly important to choose wisely.  But don’t worry, because we are here to help!  Our motoring section has a huge range of cars to choose from, with our handy filters making it easy to narrow down your search by make, type, year, colour and condition.  So, whether you’re after a  BMW or a Buick, a Cadillac or a Citroën, a Jaguar or Jeep, searching for it on adflyer couldn’t be simpler.

Whether you’re a fan of sledding, you love to ski, or you’re just desperate for some time off school or college, you’ll be loving all the snow we’ve seen recently.

So, how can you avoid looking like you’re practicing for the next series of Dancing on Ice in your car?!  Well, here at adflyer, we don’t just have a great range of motoring listings, oh no!  For our first proper entry on the motoring blog, we’ve put together some handy hints and tips about how to stay safe in these treacherous conditions.

Prepare your car

With all that snow, ice and sludge on the roads at the moment, it’s really important to be prepared before you start your journey.  First things first, give yourself at least an extra ten minutes to make sure the car’s fully prepared for your journey, and try to plan your route to favour major roads which are more likely to have been gritted.  Then, once you’re ready to venture outside, clear all the windows of snow and ice with a scraper and de-icer and check the roof for snow too, as this could slide down and obscure your windscreen.

Without wanting to sound like a complete geek, it’s also a really good idea to keep a little kit of bits and bobs you might need in an emergency in the boot.  This should include a fully-charged mobile, a first-aid kit, a tow rope, blankets, warm coat and boots, jump leads and a warning triangle.  You might feel like a bit of a numpty being so over-prepared, but it’ll be definitely be worth it if you run into a problem.

Pull away carefully

When you’re pulling away in snowy or icy conditions, it’s best to do so in second gear to avoid too much wheel spin and decrease the danger of skidding or getting stuck in the snow.

Beware the hills!

For some cars, driving up or down hills can be a mission even in the best conditions!  So, to avoid any problems, stay in the highest gear possible when going uphill and maintain a steady, constant speed.  When driving downhill, reduce your speed before you get there, try to use a lower gear and avoid braking to prevent the car from skidding.

Watch your speed

Driving at an appropriate speed becomes even more important in snowy and icy conditions, as going too fast could cause your car to skid or get stuck in the snow.  So, even if you’re in a rush to get to work, keep your speed low and constant.  After all, being a wee bit late is definitely preferable to skidding out of control and getting stuck somewhere I think!

Don’t panic!

Even if you’re as careful as can be, skidding is much more common in dangerous road conditions.  If and when you find your car skidding, don’t slam on the brakes, as this will only lock the wheels and cause even more problems.  Instead, depress the clutch, steer into the skid and carry on steering along the road when you’ve straightened out.

Getting stuck in the snow is also a serious possibility, especially when driving on more minor roads.  If this happens, don’t rev or ‘gun’ the engine, as this will make your wheels dig deeper into the snow; simply put the car into as high a gear as possible, slowly manoeuvre the car lightly back and forth, and gently creep out of the snow.

Well, now you’ve read our tips for driving safely in the snow, we hope you feel a lot more confident about venturing out in your car.  However, with advice coming in for motorists to avoid making any non-essential journeys, and nearly half of road users reportedly staying off the roads, there’ll be lots of you tucked up safely at home.  So, what can you do with all that free time I wonder?  Have no fear, because as ever adflyer is here to help!

If you’re looking for a way to pass the time, our motoring section has a huge range of listings for everything from cars to commercial vehicles, mobile homes to motorcycles, with the newest motoring classifieds being posted directly onto this blog.  Or, if you fancy a change of scenery, take a look at our other great blogs.  You’ll find plenty of news, advice and funny bits on our pet, property and adflyer blogs to keep you amused while you’re hiding from the cold.  So, whatever your buying or selling needs, adflyer can help.